Former Station Road overseas amateur punished by BCCI in match-fixing scandal

Former Whalley professional Hiken Shah, centre, in action for Mumbai A against England in 2012

Published:12:30Thursday 21 January 2016

Share this article

Whalley Cricket Club’s former overseas amateur Hiken Shah has been banned for five years for his involvement in the match-fixing scandal during the 2013 edition of the Indian Premier League.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s disciplinary committee, headed by president Shashank Manohar and also comprising Jyotiraditya Scindia and Niranjan Shah, announced the decision on Monday following a meeting in Mumbai.

The 31-year-old accumulated 924 runs during his stay at Station Road last term before he was forced to fly home to address the allegations.

Shah registered a high score of 129 in the Ramsbottom Cup quarter-final loss to Settle.

He had been found guilty of making a corrupt approach to one-time team-mate Pravin Tambe in the domestic circuit.

Shah appeared in person before the committee on Christmas Eve and again after the New Year when he made an oral submission and a written reply to the findings of the inquiry against him.

“He is held guilty of committing breach of Articles 2.1.1; Article 2.1.2 and Article 2.1.4 of the BCCI Anti Corruption Code,” read the statement from BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur.

“Hiken Shah is banned for five years from playing or representing cricket in any form or to be associated in any way with the activities of the Board or its Affiliates.”

Thakur added: “The endeavour of BCCI is to clean cricket and any kind of malpractices will be dealt with severely.”

Ajit Chandila was also brought to justice for his involvement by the BCCI’s disciplinary committee.

The 32-year-old, who was arrested by the police for trying to spot-fix IPL matches in 2013, was banned for life along with his Rajasthan Royals teammates Shantakumaran Sreesanth and Ankit Chavan.